NeveSSL's 180g Mixed Reef

[NeveSSL]

I picked up 3 cans of matte black spray paint last night at Lowes. :) I really like black backgrounds. I think black gives a good contrast to the corals.

Brandon

 

[Dowtish]

Free tank = Lots of elbow grease

Looking good man.

 

[NeveSSL]

Thanks!

Indeed... and I'm fine with elbow grease on a free tank. For that matter, many paid-for tanks = Lots of elbow grease. :)

Brandon

 

[NeveSSL]

Got most of the tank stand primed yesterday. I will probably flip it over and prime the bottom parts today. I'm also hoping I may be able to get the back of the tank spray painted today before this massive cold front moves through.

Brandon

 

[pickupman66]

Yup. Make sure you get it printed with it not frigid.

 

[NeveSSL]

Got it done today. :)

Taped up and started:

Finished up:

While I was doing this, my wife was kind enough to finish priming the stand.

I also found a Bubble Blaster 5000 locally for my skimmer. Should turn that thing into an absolute beast!

My pumps should be in within the next two weeks, too. I may switch to WpP25s from the 40s because they're smaller, but we will see.

Brandon

 

[meintn]

Looks great! Keep up the good work and it'll be wet before long.

 

[NeveSSL]

Thanks, James! I'm hoping so. :)

Brandon

Edit: And on a completely random side note, this is my 1000th post. Haha!

 

[Volitans67]

What did you buy to celebrate your 1000th post? I think you can justify those Kessil's Haha!

 

[NeveSSL]

A Bubble Blaster 5000 that I'm picking up Sunday after the meeting. :D

Brandon

 

[NeveSSL]

Getting closer! I'm starting to plan out the tank move-in. Still have to get a controller and some lights. Probably going to have to go with ReefRadiance instead of Kessils for now, though, unfortunately. But I'm still holding out hope. :D We also have to do some sort of facade for the front of the tank and I'll need to build the canopy. Far from finished, but its exciting to get it into the house. I'm planning on plumbing the week after Christmas.

Brandon

 

[NeveSSL]

Finally got it moved in!!! :rockon:


Many thanks to all who helped!!!! I really appreciate you guys coming over.

Brandon

 

[pickupman66]

Dude that looks awesome.

 

[NeveSSL]

Thanks, Lindsey! Really appreciate your assistance in making this tank happen, also. :) We will be putting a facade around the tank and add a canopy, also. Still lots to do, not the least of which is the plumbing, but this is a major step, needless to say. I will be doing the plumbing after Christmas, but I'm still not sure when I will be adding water and turning the pump on, though. I don't really want to run the tank until I get my Apex, but I may fire it up before that.

Brandon

 

[Volitans67]

Thanks, Lindsey! Really appreciate your assistance in making this tank happen, also. :) We will be putting a facade around the tank and add a canopy, also. Still lots to do, not the least of which is the plumbing, but this is a major step, needless to say. I will be doing the plumbing after Christmas, but I'm still not sure when I will be adding water and turning the pump on, though. I don't really want to run the tank until I get my Apex, but I may fire it up before that.

Brandon

Seriously it's looking good in there, can't wait til you fire it up. Who would start their tank without an apex though?! Ha

 

[NeveSSL]

Haha! I know someone who might start their tank without an Apex. :)

Got my plumbing parts ordered today. I was going to order right after Christmas, but I think that would be a bad idea... no telling how long it will take them to come in! So now I know I'll be able to do it when I had planned. :first:

Getting closer... Now I've got to figure out how I want to put a hole in my wall for three 1.5" drains and two 3/4" returns! :nerd:

Brandon

 

[NeveSSL]

Manifold is here!!!


Spa Flex also came in today. Our front desk lady called and said "Uh... There's a giant flexible hose here with your name on it.". Haha!

I also got several other parts in this week. I think I'm only missing one or two more orders and we will be good to go!! Overflow will be ready by Christmas, too, if all goes well. Can't wait!!!

Brandon

 

[NeveSSL]

Sorry, double post. :)

Brandon

 

[pickupman66]

Brandon.. all I did was almost drop it on my toe. Lol. Glad to see it coming together.

 

[NeveSSL]

Haha! At least it was an "almost dropped it on my toe"... that "almost" means a lot. :)

So, good news and bad news today. I got my parts in to put the Bubble Blaster 5000 on my skimmer body. Sweet! The bad news... my clown fish got too close to the pump and, well, she didn't make it. :( I'm kinda bummed, but such is reefing. I may wait until I get the tank up and going before I add any more fish. That may be in just a week or two, though, so shouldn't be a huge deal. Depends on whether I can afford to buy salt after Christmas or not. Haha!

We also moved the sump from its temporary position into what should be its permanent position. My wife and I are also planning on adding our utility sink in the garage, which is going to be awesome! I've also decided to take that challenge on myself, so I'm stoked. Hardest part should be soldering the copper pipes, and I'll be practicing that ahead of time.

Here's a pic of the new sump in place:

The master plan at the moment has the utility sink going where the brute is in this picture with the shelf to the left of that being removed and a water mixing station being installed there. I am also planning on building a platform above the sump and a shelf above the utility sink for various things. Thinking about putting a remote deep sandbed on the platform, along with possibly a dedicated refugium, algae scrubber, pellet reactor (which may actually go in the sump), etc. Not entirely sure just yet, but essentially space and room to experiment. I will also be plumbing a drain from the tank directly into the sink for water changes. I am also considering a way to use relays to do automatic water changes. Should be pretty simple. We'll see, though. many things to figure out along the way.

Tomorrow I will be plumbing my RO/DI in and getting it going so I don't have to use the water hose any more... its generally too cold for that now (although today has been an exception).

Anyway, enough rambling for tonight. I feel like I'm getting some momentum, which is awesome! Hopefully an Apex and lights will be in my future.

Brandon